DARE/ICAR reports around ₹10 lakh in revenue from scrap disposal as its nationwide cleanliness campaign promotes waste management, recycling and sustainable practices across agricultural institutions.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), along with its 114 institutes, regional centres, Agricultural Technology Application Research Institutes (ATARIs) and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), has undertaken nearly 4,000 cleanliness drives under Swachhata Special Campaign 6.0, running from October 2 to October 31, 2026.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, the campaign has resulted in the clearance of approximately 1.3 lakh square feet of space and generated around ₹10 lakh in revenue through the disposal of electronic and non-electronic scrap. The initiative focuses on improving institutional cleanliness, streamlining records management, clearing pending matters and encouraging environmentally responsible waste disposal.

Launched on October 2, the campaign began with cleanliness activities across ICAR establishments nationwide, including the National Agricultural Science Complex (NASC) in Pusa, New Delhi. The programme promotes collective responsibility for sanitation, cleaner workplaces and sustained public participation.

Waste Management, Recycling and Sustainable Practices Take Centre Stage

Swachhata Special Campaign 6.0 combines institutional housekeeping with broader environmental initiatives. Activities include cleanliness drives and voluntary Shramdaan in institutional premises, villages, roads and public spaces, alongside awareness programmes, plogging, plantation drives and the distribution of dustbins.

ICAR institutions are also promoting the principles of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle through waste-to-art initiatives, plastic-free campaigns and the creative reuse of discarded materials. Other activities include vermicomposting, the removal of obsolete files and the systematic identification and disposal of unserviceable equipment.

At ICAR–Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-CCARI), Goa, a special drive identified scrap materials from institutional field units and guest houses for disposal through approved procedures. The materials included 70 kg of metal items, 200 kg of MCB panels, 100 kg of fencing wire and 20 kg of plastic items.

At ICAR–Central Island Agricultural Research Institute in Sri Vijaya Puram, biological waste management initiatives covered 213 animals across cattle, buffalo, goat and pig units. Livestock sheds were cleaned using high-pressure jet washers, wastewater was reused for fodder irrigation, livestock urine was utilised for irrigation, and animal dung was transported to a vermicompost unit for conversion into organic manure.

The initiative demonstrates how agricultural institutions can integrate sanitation, water conservation and nutrient recycling into their routine operations.

Cleanliness Initiatives Across ICAR Institutions

Several ICAR establishments have undertaken activities tailored to their operational requirements. ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute in New Delhi observed Swachh Bharat Diwas under the theme “Swachhta Mein Sahbhag – Swachh Bharat, Viksit Bharat”, encouraging staff and students to make cleanliness a year-round practice.

ICAR–Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture in Hyderabad focused on cleaning farm surroundings, removing unwanted vegetation and maintaining internal pathways and common areas. At the Mahatma Gandhi Integrated Farming Research Institute in Motihari, Bihar, activities focused on maintaining banana plantation rows and adjoining green spaces.

Meanwhile, ICAR’s Research Complex for the North Eastern Hill Region in Umiam, Meghalaya, emphasised the collection, segregation and disposal of electronic waste through authorised recyclers and refurbishers.

The campaign has also highlighted the contribution of Safai Mitras, sanitation workers and volunteers. At ICAR-CCARI, Goa, Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan felicitated Safai Mitras in recognition of their contribution to maintaining a clean and hygienic institutional environment.

Key Highlights of Swachhata Special Campaign 6.0

• Nearly 4,000 cleanliness drives undertaken across the DARE/ICAR network.
• Approximately 1.3 lakh square feet of space cleared.
• Around ₹10 lakh generated through the disposal of electronic and non-electronic scrap.
• 114 ICAR institutes, regional centres, ATARIs and KVKs participating in the nationwide campaign.
• Waste-to-resource initiatives promoting recycling, vermicomposting and the reuse of discarded materials.
• Electronic waste management through collection, segregation and disposal via authorised recyclers.
• Water and nutrient conservation through wastewater reuse, livestock-waste recycling and organic manure production.
• Community participation through Shramdaan, sanitation awareness, plantation drives and recognition of sanitation workers.

Impact on Hospitality, Food Service and Travel & Tourism

1. Stronger relevance for hotel housekeeping and facility management

The campaign reinforces the importance of systematic housekeeping, space optimisation and regular disposal of obsolete materials. These practices are relevant to hotels, resorts, restaurants and institutional kitchens seeking to maintain hygienic premises, improve operational efficiency and manage back-of-house spaces effectively.

2. Sustainable waste management for hotels and restaurants

ICAR’s emphasis on segregation, recycling, composting and responsible scrap disposal offers practical parallels for hospitality businesses. Hotels with gardens, food production areas and landscaping operations may explore composting suitable organic waste, while restaurants and catering facilities can strengthen waste segregation and recycling systems appropriate to their operations.

3. Food waste and circular resource management

The livestock-waste initiatives demonstrate how biological waste can be converted into useful resources. While food waste requires its own appropriate handling and processing systems, the broader principle of recovering value from organic waste is relevant to hotels, commercial kitchens, food processors and large catering operations.

4. Cleaner public spaces and destination appeal

Sustained cleanliness initiatives can support the wider objectives of destination management, particularly where public spaces, heritage areas, rural attractions and visitor facilities require regular maintenance. Clean surroundings and responsible waste disposal contribute to a better visitor experience, although the PIB release does not quantify any direct impact on tourist footfall.

5. Sustainability practices across the hospitality supply chain

The campaign highlights the value of measurable housekeeping outcomes, responsible disposal, recycling and resource conservation. Hospitality operators can apply similar principles through waste audits, vendor accountability, efficient storage and documented sustainability initiatives.

Industry Takeaway

Swachhata Special Campaign 6.0 highlights how large institutional networks can combine cleanliness, space management, scrap disposal and resource recovery under a coordinated programme. For India’s hospitality and food service sectors, the initiative offers relevant operational lessons in housekeeping, waste segregation, recycling and circular resource management.

With the campaign continuing until October 31, 2026, its longer-term value will depend on whether these practices become routine across institutions. For hotels, restaurants, food businesses and tourism operators, the broader message is clear: cleanliness and sustainability work best when they are embedded in everyday operations rather than treated as one-time activities.

Source: Press Information Bureau (PIB), Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), October 21, 2026.